Window channel



Aug.l 24, 1937. c. P. SCHLEGEL 2,090,737

WINDOW CHANNEL Filed July` 26, 1935 INVENTOR @wies Payb Ella-www /L'S ATTO EY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE WINDOW CHANNEL :Charles P. Schlegel, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Schlegel Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation-of New York Application July 26, 1935, Serial No. `33,347

8 Claims.

This invention relates to so-called Window channels, used for mounting windows, whether slidable or fixed, in vehicles such asautomobiles, airplanes, motor boats, and the like, and capable also of Various other uses.

The present vimprovements are directed particularly to the construction of the edge of the Window channel, and an object of the invention is to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory and more economical channel edge construction.

Another object is the provision of an improved channel construction applicable to flexible or bendable channels which can be readily bent in a longitudinal direction, that is, bent in a curve in the plane of a Window embraced by the channel.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as Will be hereinafter-more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end ofthe specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fragment of a channel constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross section through the channel illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross section of the form of channel shown-in Figs. 1 land,2, on a larger scale, and illustrating the channel in fiat 3 3 condition before it is formedup into a U-shaped channel;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the modified form of channel shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the channel construction in greater detail;

Fig. 8 is a Viewl ofthe channel lshown in Fig. 7 formed into U-shaped or channel shaped cross 4,; section and appliedsin a groove or rabbet `of va Window frame, and

Fig. 9 is a view similartoa fragment of Fig. 8, illustrating the modified form of channel .shown alsolin Figs..3, 4, and :6.

The same reference numeralsfthroughout the several vviews indicate the saine parts.

The channel of the presentinvention includes a main-body of flexible material indicated.=.dia grammatically at l0 and-adapted=to beformed up into a generally-U-shaped `or. channel. shaped ably all of which are of metallic Wire, are indi, 3

crossfsection, ,such as illustrated in Figs. Zand `8. The description of this body'as being offlexible materialr isintended'to mean that it'may be `bent readily by the application of slight force,

vas can be done with fabric, for example, and ras :5 distinguished from sheet metal, often heretofore used for Window channel bodies, which sheet metal can be bent only by the application of a considerable degree of force and which ordinarily is so stiff that it can not be formed up 10 readily by hand from a flat'condition to a channel shaped or U-shaped condition. This body l il is preferably constructed of wove textile material, -and may be provided With breaks or weakened lines running longitudi- 15 nally along the strip of material` at points 'corresponding to the corners of the channel, asindicated at Il, so as to assist in the forming up of the channel from flat condition to U-shaped condition. A reasonable degree-of transversefV20 stiffness is imparted to the bodyby the use of `metallic Wire portions extending in a generally transverse direction and either separately. ap-

plied to or Woven integrally intothe body Iii.

Preferably the stiifening Wire portions are Wovenr 2- into the textile body rather than being merely applied to it. For example', some or preferably all of the transverse or weft strands of the Vtexltile body may be formed of Wire, such as small sized copper Wire or other rust resisting metallicvrgo wire. Preferablyalso the longitudinal or VWarp `strands of the strip of textile material .are of non-metallic material, such as cotton or linen, for example. The weft strands, some or'prefercated diagrammatically at I3, While the Warpl strands, preferably mainly or entirely of non- Inetallic threads,vcords, or strands, are indicated diagrammatically at I 4. It is to be understood that these diagrammatic views are not intended-f40 to illustrate any particular form 4of weave, as

the Weave may be of various different forms Without altering the Vpresent invention.

By the use of weft strands of metallic Wire in a channel body of Woven textile material, the-45 body is made sufficiently stiff in a transverse direction so that it will readily retain its channel shaped or U-shaped form, and Will not collapse Ainwardly when a Windowfor sash associatedvvvith Vthe channel is Withdrawn'temporarilyfrom the `A50 channelyyet the textile body is suillcientlyilexible so that it may be readily formed up from the flat conditionl illustrated in Figs, 5, 6, and 7 tothe ,i

U-shaped conditionof normal use, illustrated-in Figs. 2, 4, and 8. ...7.55

A window channel body woven from nonmetallic warp strands and having stiffening weft strands of wire, is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,978,438, granted October 30, 1934. The present invention is directed particularly to improvements in the edge construction of the channel body, the edge construction of the present channel differing materially from the edge construction shown in my said prior patent.

It is desirable to provide the channel with stiifening means running longitudinally along one or both of the edges of the channel to assist in holding the edges true and straight, except where curves are purposely desired, and to assist in.

holding the required curvature Where curvature is intended. According to the present invention, this stiffening means is in the form of a metallic rod or wire of large size, running longitudinally along the channel near the edge to be stiffened, las indicated diagrammatically at 29. The marginal or edge portion of the channel body is bent backwardly over or rolled around this wire or rod 20, as plainly indicated diagrammatically in the drawing. Thus the channel body provides what may be termed a substantially tubular portion running along the edge of the channel and the stiffening rod or wire 20 extends through and is held by this tubular portion. The portion of the channel body which is rolled around the stiffening member 20 is held in its rolled or tubular form entirely or mainly by reason of the stiffness imparted by the transverse stiiTening wire portions applied to or woven into the channel body, and these transverse stiffening wire portions may be said to extend around and embrace the longitudinal stiffening element 20.

The rolled back marginal portion of the channel body may simply extend around the stiffening element 20 with the edge of the rolled back portion substantially abutting against the channel body at 2l, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8, or, if preferred, the channel body may be somewhat wider, making more material available to be rolled back over the stifiening element 20, and the marginal portion after extending around the stiiening element may then overlap with and lie against the side wall of the channel for a greater or lesser distance, as illustrated, for example, at 22 in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 9. In case the overlapping margin shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 9, is desired, the stiffness of the transverse stiffening wire portions will usually be sufficient to hold this marginal portion down in substantially tight engagement with the side wall of the channel, but additional means may be employed to hold the partstogether if preferred.

The channel body is provided withmeans forming suitable cushioning pads for cushioning the glass or sash mountedv in the channel. These cushioning pads preferably are formed in strips, one extending along the base or bottom portion of the channel as indicated diagrammatically at 30, and another extending along the inner surface of each side wall, as indicated diagrammatically at 3 l so that these cushioning strips may contact with a glass or sash indicated diagrammatically at 32. The cushioning means may be formed in various ways. For example, the cushioning pads may be formed of long loops, as disclosed in my above mentioned United States Patent No. 1,978,438, or may be formed of relatively long stiff pile, as disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,847,700, granted March 1, 1932. The use of the relatively long stiff pile is ordinarily preferred, and is illustrated diagrammatically in the drawing of this present application.

If it is desired to provide a channel which is capable of being bent longitudinally, that is, bent in a curve in the plane of a window embraced by the channel, then the textile channel body may be woven so that a little space is left between each two adjacent weft strands, thus affording some opportunity for the strands to move slightly closer to each other when required during the bending of the channel around the corner of a window. When making such a bend, the base lportion of the channel is obviously curved on a greater -radius than the inner edges of the channel, that is, the free edges of the side walls, and the smaller radius of curvature of the side walls in comparison to the base or bottom of the channel requires the side walls of the channel to shorten up somewhat in comparison to the back wall or base. This shortening of the side walls may be accommodated partly by the movement of the spaced weft strands closer to each other in the side walls, and partly by some slight and unobjectionable puckering of the side walls, with the result that the channel will bend smoothly and evenly around the desired curvature.

During such bending, the longitudinal stiffening rod or wire 29 must also move slightly in a longitudinal direction relatively to the channel body, because of the contraction of length of the inner edges' of the channel at the curve. Accordingly, when the channel is intended to be capable of being bent longitudinally around a curved window opening, the channel should be constructed so that the marginal portions bent around the stiffening members 29 grip these members sufficiently loosely so that the stiffening members may move longitudinally through the surrounding rolled back or tubular portions of the body.

In some instances, it may be desirable to dip the completed channel in latex or otherwise apply a coating of latex to the woven channel to assist in holding the various strands and bers in desired relationship to each other. The slight amount of latex may produce some adhesive action assisting to some extent in holding the margin 22 flat against the side wall of the channel, but in most cases the marginal portion 22 and the portion which encircles the stiffening element 20 are held in position mainly by the transverse stiffening wires rather than by any adhesive action.

It is now seen that an improved edge construction has` been provided, which gives adequate stiffening to the edge of the channel at slight expense. If desired, a hollow bead similar to the bead illustrated in my said Patent No. 1,978,438 may be applied to the channel, for decorative purposes, but it is ordinarily not necessary, and the wire or rod 20 provides suicient stiffness along the edge so that no additional stiffness is needed. The member 2!! may, of course, be readily bent as desired by application of slight force.

It may be pointed out that the wire or rod 20 of the present invention is not woven into the textile channel body, but is a separate element held to the body simply by being enveloped by the turned back portion of the body. In this respect, it differs materially from the edge strand indicated at 8l in my said Patent No. 1,978,438, which edge strand 8l forms an integral part of the weave of the channel body.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of Ways. 'I'his application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A longitudinally and transversely flexible Weather 'stripping member comprising a body of iiexible material adapted to be readily bent by hand both longitudinally and transversely, said body having transversely extending stiffening Wire portions, and a metallic stiifening element running longitudinally along said body adjacent one edge thereof, a marginal edge portion of said body, including parts of said stiffening Wire portions, being bent outwardly and backwardly and formed into a substantially tubular portion lying substantially on theouter side of said body and enclosing said longitudinal stiifening element and held in tubular form mainly by the stiiness oi said transverse stiiening Wire portions.

2. A longitudinally and transversely flexible Weather stripping member comprising a body of Woven material including stiiening weit strands of metallic wire, said body being adapted to be readily bent by hand both longitudinally and transversely, and a metallic stiiening element running longitudinally along the outer side of said body adjacent one edge thereof, a marginal edge portion of said body being wrapped outwardly around said longitudinal stiiening element and being maintained in Wrapped relation thereto mainly by the stiffness of said weit strands of wire.

3. A longitudinally and transversely iiexiblc Window channel comprising a body of Woven material including stiffening weft strands of metallic Wire, said body being adapted to be formed into a channel of generally U-shaped cross section, the margin of said body along one edge being rolled back to provide a substantially tubular portion running substantially along said edge, and a metallic stiiening element extending through said tubular portion.

4. A longitudinally and transversely iiexible Weather stripping member comprising a body of Woven material including stiiening weft strands of metallic Wire, the margin of said body along one edge being rolled back to provide a substantially tubular portion running substantially along said edge, a metallic stiffening element extending through said tubular portion and slidable longitudinally therein so that said body may be bent in its oWn plane, and relatively long stili pile projecting a substantial distance from said Woven body.

5. A longitudinally and transversely flexible Weather stripping member comprising a body of woven material including stilening Weit strands of metallic Wire, and a metallic stiffening Wire running longitudinally adjacent each edge of said body, the margin of each edge of said body being rolled at least partially around its associated stiifening Wire and being held in rolled position mainly by the stiffness of said Weft strands of Wire Woven into said body.

6. A longitudinally and transversely flexible Window channel comprising a body of Woven material including stiliening Weit strands of metallic Wire, said body being adapted to be formed into a channel of generally U-shaped cross section, and a metallic stiffening Wire running longitudinally adjacent each edge of said body, the margin of each edge of said body being rolled at least partially around its associated stifening Wire sufficiently loosely so that each Wire may move longitudinally with respect to the channel body, the rolled portions of the channel body being maintained in Wire-embracing position largely by reason of the stiiness of said weft strands of Wire Woven into said body.

7. A Weather stripping member comprising a body of Woven textile material including stifiening weft strands of metallic Wire, a mass of relatively long stiff pile occupying a Zone of substantial Width along one face of said body and projecting a substantial distance from said face of said body, and a metallic stifening element running longitudinally along said body near one edge thereof and on the opposite face of said body from said projecting pile, a marginal edge portion of said body being Wrapped backWardly around saidlongitudinal stiening element and being maintained in Wrapped relation thereto primarily by the stiffness of said weft strands of wire.

8. A longitudinally and transversely flexible Weather stripping member including a body formed at least in part of a strip of Woven textile material, stifiening strands of metallic Wire associated With said textile material and extending in a generally transverse direction with respect to said strip to impart transverse stiffness thereto, cushioning pad means projecting a substantial distance rom one face of said body and adapted to contact with a Window or the like, and a metallic stifening element running longitudinally along said body near one edge thereof and on the opposite face of said body from said cushioning pad means, a marginal edge portion of said body, including portions of said Wire strands, being Wrapped at least partially around said longitudinal stii'ening element to hold it in place with respect to said body and being maintained in wrapped relation to said element at least partially by the stiffness of said transverse strands of Wire, said portion of said body Wrapped around said longitudinal stiifening element embracing said element sufficiently loosely so that said element may slide longitudinally with respect to said body.

CHARLES P. SCHLEGEL. 

